It is during the coming season, called “Lent,” that we, as Christians, remember and respond, in gratitude and faith, to what God did to win our hearts.

I invite you to focus your thoughts in the coming weeks upon the following scripture as we give our attention to the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ:

“Long ago, even before He made the world,

“God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy

“And without fault in His eyes.

“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into

“His own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.

“And this gave Him great pleasure.

“So we praise God for the wonderful kindness He has poured

“Out on us because we belong to His dearly loved Son.

“He is so rich in kindness that He purchased our freedom

“Through the blood of His Son, And our sins are forgiven . . .

“God’s secret plan has now been revealed to us;

“It is a plan centered on Christ,

“Designed long ago according to His good pleasure.

“And this is His plan;

“At the right time He will bring everything together

“Under the authority of Christ  everything in heaven and on earth.

“Furthermore, because of Christ,

“We have received an inheritance from God,

“For He chose us from the beginning,

“And all things happen just as He decided long ago.”

 Ephesians 1:4-7,9-11 NLT

As you take time during these coming weeks of Lent to reflect on the life of Jesus, I ask you to pause and consider the great gift of God’s grace given through His son, Jesus. Pause and unwrap the gifts of grace found in the cross, the crown of thorns, the nails, and an empty tomb. Pause and quietly consider what God did: